Former President Solih Faces Criminal Probe Over Millions in Settlements

The Parliamentary finance committee on Wednesday passed a motion to conduct a criminal investigation into the dispute settlements ordered by the now defunct settlement committee.

The motion was proposed by Funadhoo constituency MP Mohamed Mamdhooh which was seconded by Kelaa constituency MP Abdulla Shareef.

The motion passed by the committee has advised the Prosecutor General’s office to file charges against former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, former Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail and former Minister at the President’s Office Ali Shiyam if found complicit from the investigation into the settlement of disputes and disbursement of funds by the settlement committee.

The finance committee agreed that all three have been accused of embezzling state property and funds in clear violation of their constitutional and legally mandated duties while holding a senior position of the State.

Therefore, the committee has decided to ask the Prosecutor General’s Office to conduct a criminal investigation into the trio and file criminal charges if sufficient evidence is found.

In addition, the finance committee had decided that the settlement agreements signed between 2019 to 2023 are void ab initio and approved all necessary legal action to invalidate the agreements.

The motion also mandates an investigation into any compensation that has been paid to any person in violation of the Finance Act and to notify the Attorney General and relevant agencies to recover the disbursed funds.

During the committee meeting, members were quick to shoot down any allegations of a witch-hunt against high-level officials of the previous administration, insisting accusations of any wrongdoing will be thoroughly investigated without prejudice.

The settlement committee was formed in 2022 during Solih’s administration under the Guideline for Resolution of Disputes Relating to Agreements between the Government and Private Parties.

Incumbent President Dr Mohamed Muizzu dissolved the committee in November last year, after the Attorney General had advised the President that the settlement committee guideline had been implemented without statutory authority.

Prior to the dissolution of the settlement committee, decisions were made to compensate various parties to the value of USD14.6 million before November 17, 2023. Moreover, the committee is estimated to have decided to grant USD64.8 million worth of assets and funds as compensation to various parties.